$0.5m for villages

MAJOR development projects worth about $0.5million are earmarked for Rabi Island.

Among these are the establishment of bee farming projects in the four villages on the island — Tabewa, Nuku, Uma and Tabiang.

Also included in the development projects are coconut replanting programs, soap-making, fish farming and the construction of farm roads as well as root crops and rice farming.

In an interview, acting commissioner northern Alipate Bolalevu said the people of Rabi could expect more developments as government worked towards improving their livelihoods.

"We plan to start with some of these projects this year and the rest next year," he said.

"Now that the new virgin coconut oil factory has opened in the area, we expect villagers to produce more coconuts daily to the factory for sale. Also, a bio-fuel factory has been initiated on the island, encouraging the coconut growers to plant more to meet the demand in the two facilities."

Mr Bolalevu said villagers were being assisted in planting more young coconut trees to replace the senile ones, adding that more coconut seedlings would be sent to the island in September.

"For the bee farming project, we plan to donate 30 beehive boxes to each of the four villages.

"We also want to improve the farm roads there so transportation and movements by farmers can be enhanced."

Mr Bolalevu said the people of Rabi had a lot of opportunities for developments.

"We are assisting them so they are self-reliant, sustainable and economically-empowered."